Solitude or Isolation?

Recently I've been coming across friends and acquaintances who have been challenged in one way or another, drawing them to a place of deeper contemplation over life and their place in the Body of Christ, etc. Some of these challenges are encouragements, sort of a "spurring on," and some are very tough trials that challenge their heart or thinking. But the common denominator is that they're experiencing a sort of separation... from friends, family, peers.

Now we do know that solitude in many ways is a good thing. It's an opportunity to be undisturbed, to focus and muse on life, etc.
We know Jesus many times would slip away from the crowd and be by Himself...

Mark 1:35

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there" 

There, Jesus would find solace, direction and most likely some peace and quiet! But we also know of other times when He slipped away by Himself...

Luke 22:41, 44-46

"And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,

And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

and said to them, "Why are you sleeping?"

Two things to note from here...

1. This wasn't just a time of solitude. This was a time of great challenge. Was His faith challenged? Maybe. But the point is that this place of solitude became a place of isolation.

2. Imagine coming out of a time of deep anguish in solitude to find your friends "sleeping," seemingly unaware of what He was going through, let alone caring... That's when it become isolation.

Another example of solitude becoming isolation is in the story of Job.

We know from the story that Job was rich, had many possessions, a big family, and probably a lot of people who surrounded him because of it. (when was the last time you saw a well known rich guy not having people hounding him for money, let alone schmoozing for some place of favor?) 

We also know that God was very impressed with him and showed him off to Satan, whereas Satan of course found an opportunity to do what he does best... torment Job. 

Job lost EVERYTHING... Not only were his possessions and his family wiped out, but he was then given boils! (Job 2:7) Don't tell me that didn't cause a bit of isolation from the rest of society!

But the worst part of Job's isolation was through his well-meaning friends. Job's friends were very quick to offer suggestions of what he must've done to deserve this horrible thing, even to the point of demanding he repent! 

There are a number of stories of God's people in isolation (David, Noah, Paul...) but another worth mentioning was Jonah.

While we know of Jonah's story of running from God, being swallowed by a whale, preaching repentance to Nineveh, etc. we rarely mention how his story all ended...

Jonah 4:5-8

Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it . There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city. So the Lord God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant . But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered. When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, "Death is better to me than life."

Jonah decided to isolate himself and sulk. After all that he had gone through, he still was selfish and indignant over the situation and God rebuked him! (vs. 9-11)

For those of you who've found yourself in a new place - a place of challenge or of hardship - a place of deep anguish and sorrow or a place of renewal - yet, alone... Know this:

Numbers 16:9

"...is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them" 

It is in the isolation that God meets us. It is in the solitude that we can hear Him. It is in the intimacy that we know Him... and we become His partners. We become His trusted ones, because we trusted Him.

What Does Revival Look Like?

"And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed." (Acts 4:31-35, 5:1-5, 11-16 NASB)

**When a unified move of God began, it was a sovereign thing not to be taken lightly. Those who understood it, gave their possessions to the body to be distributed as needed. Not one person held back as they all understood that it belonged to The Lord... Except one. Ananias & his wife, had they succeeded in only bringing their partial offering, it would've become a seed of discord, jealousy and selfish gain. The Father could not have it nor tolerate it.
1. They had to be removed swiftly before it had the opportunity to affect this sovereign move
2. The awe of God, instead, was replaced and increased...
So much so that those who did not understand it, stayed at a distance for fear. Most likely it was a fear of judgment because there was also a fear of laying down EVERYTHING for the sake of the gospel.

People did get saved and multitudes were added to the church, but the miracles and favor happened among those who cashed it all in for the sake of the cause.

There is always a unified community and continued sense of awe when a sovereign move happens. Yet as soon as some hold back or selfish gain enters the picture, it dies off.
There is also always those who never fully enter in for fear, but instead stay at a distance - reaping the benefits of those who've cashed it all in, yet losing out on its fullest life changing potential.

We continue to cry out for revival, but there is a price...
Well, I truly believe we ARE on the verge of a move of God in our land, yet much of the effect will be measured by our willingness to lay down EVERYTHING for the sake of the cause.
Will we stifle what He is doing for selfish gain? Or will He find us faithful enough to sustain it?

Let us seek The Lord with our WHOLE heart.
Ask and find what it is He wants of us. Do not hold back what is already his, but release it to Him for the sake of His cause.
Let revival spread once again in our land & restore us to our God given heritage.

All He Wants is for Us to Truly See Him

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Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart..."

The heart of our Father is one who longs to be seen and believed in. All that He has for us is at our fingertips if we only believe. His amazing love, provision, healing and restoration are ours upon believing and merely asking.

Luke 10:21 “...I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight."

(Anyone who's seen this in full will get this)

Hungry People

There are so many hungry people all around us today, but we can't see their desperation with our natural eyes. We need the Holy Spirit to show us. These people are hungry for something real, so we can't just preach at them. What they need is for us to release and impart the reality of His presence upon them. We cannot release what we're not carrying. If you're not already, walk in the Spirit. Ask Him for directions.
He is good and faithful to meet His beloved where they are.

My Prayer for Today...

"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:17-23
-Amen.